Changing Myself First

So often when we look out at the world and the people living around us we are tempted to say, "If only things changed, life would be much better." Many of us might want to say this about our community, our church - maybe even our families - we are all tempted at times to point the finger and say, "If you could just change then all my problems would be solved. In his book entitled Winning With People, motivational speaker John Maxwell tells about the inscription that was found in the crypts of Westminster Abbey in London. The following words were written on the tomb of a bishop who lived sometime in the 11th century:

"When I was young and free my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it, too, seemed immovable. As I grew in my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it. And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realized: If I had only changed my self first, then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed my world."

Psychotherapist Sheldon Kopp has said, "all the significant battles are waged within the self." While there are certainly many conflicts in our world today, we all know that the most basic of all conflicts - the one that determines the condition of our personal world - is won or lost within the realms of our own minds. This is why the apostle Paul said, "there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes" (Eph. 4:23, NLT). Instead of blaming others for the condition of the world - even the condition of my own life - perhaps it is time, as Gandhi once said, to "be the change you want to see on the world." Only then can things in our world really begin to be different.